Signing Tyler Boyd Could Give The Bears Immense Flexibility Heading Towards The NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is nearly a month away, as it appears all but a certainty now that the Chicago Bears will utilize the first overall selection on USC quarterback Caleb Williams. With the first of two selections all but finalized, there is growing intrigue surrounding what position Chicago will target with the ninth overall selection and whether they will select a wide receiver or defensive end. Given what has transpired over the last few weeks for the Bears, it may be in the team's best interest to sign current free agent pass-catch Tyler Boyd, who is viewed as one of the best slot receivers in the league.

Signing Boyd Would Give Chicago The Best Supporting Cast A Rookie Quarterback Could Ask For

Boyd has been in the NFL for eight seasons, spent entirely with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he has been one of the most consistent and reliable pass-catchers. During his eight-year career, he has had 58 or more receptions in each of the last six seasons. Boyd has also recorded four seasons of 800 receiving yards or more despite his role at receiver changing from a second option to a third option.

Over the past three seasons, Boyd has served as the slot receiver for the Bengals, with Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins as the team's starting wide receivers. Although often relegated to a third-option role, the pass-catching veteran has been reliable when needing to start, as both Chase and Higgins have battled injuries over the past few seasons. Boyd has proven to be one of the more versatile receivers in the NFL, and if unable to secure a starting role with a team, could best be suited to join the Bears, given the current setup of their offense.

A few weeks ago, Bears' general manager Ryan Poles traded Chicago's fourth-round selection to the Los Angeles Chargers in return for perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen. The acquisition gives the Bears two 1,000-yard pass-catchers in Allen and DJ Moore, along with two accomplished tight ends in Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Signing Boyd would give Chicago's offense three 1,000-yard wide receivers, but more significantly, a proven slot receiver, something the team has not had in quite some time.

A trio featuring Allen, Moore, and Boyd would give Chicago's new offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, an almost identical offensive roster to what he had with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. Waldron oversaw a Seahawk's offense that featured Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba, as he made it a point to include all three pass-catchers. Having an immense level of talent at the pass-catching positions would be an almost perfect situation for an incoming rookie quarterback such as Williams.

Giving Williams the cast of Kmet, Everett, Allen, Boyd, and Moore would allow the rookie to develop in an offense filled with veterans whose experience would be vital when helping the rookie quarterback understand the team's offense early on. Waldron working with the accomplished talent at the pass-catching role would allow for flexibility and growth within his offensive scheme, compared to if Chicago drafted a quarterback and a rookie wide receiver. Williams working with three receivers, who are respected for their route-running capabilities, could allow for faster-than-expected development and avoid potential turnovers caused by confusion.

Signing Boyd Would Provide Much-Needed Draft Flexibility For Chicago

Although the Allen trade enables the Bears to pass on needing to take a wide receiver with their ninth selection, there are rumors that the team could still utilize the pick on either Washington's Rome Odunze or LSU's Malik Nabers. Despite the desire to give Williams or another quarterback prospect another pass-catcher via the draft, it may be in Chicago's best interest to use the selection on a defensive end, especially after not addressing the position in free agency so far.

Many analysts believe that at the start of free agency, Poles and the front office would sign a prominent pass-rusher to pair opposite Pro Bowl edge rusher Montez Sweat. After missing talents such as Danielle Hunter and Bryce Huff, Chicago will likely use the draft to find a defensive end to pair with Sweat. Signing Boyd allows the Bears to focus on drafting either Jared Verse or Dallas Turner with the ninth pick or trade back to acquire additional draft choices.

Bringing in Boyd also provides an insurance option if there is a significant injury to either Allen or Moore that forces one of them to miss an extended amount of time. Despite being the third receiver in the Bengals' offense for the past three seasons, the eight-year veteran would be a starter for most teams around the NFL. Having Boyd with Allen and Moore is a more trustworthy situation compared to if Chicago's offense featured a rookie wide receiver if one of the starters were to go down with an injury.

Poles is doing his best to have a complete offense in place for whoever is Chicago's starting quarterback at the beginning of 2024, and signing Boyd would finish that task. Three veteran wide receivers, all of whom have had multiple seasons of 1,000 yards receiving, would be a dream scenario for Williams or any other potential rookie signal-caller to walk into. Additionally, Boyd frees up a need before the draft, as the Bears only have a limited number of selections after their significant trades this offseason.